London Councils conducts research, analysis, policy development and communications activities to inform and influence all stages of the Government’s financial planning cycle.
Spending Reviews
The Government sets out its overarching spending plans - including departmental spending limits - through regular Spending Reviews. These are typically multi-year reviews but can be supplemented by single year Spending Rounds or Reviews to bridge gaps between full Spending Reviews, should circumstances make an interim measure more appropriate. London Councils submits detailed written representations containing evidence and argument on local government finance to all Spending Reviews and Spending Rounds. London Councils’ recent spending review documents can be found below.
Budgets
The Budget is a statement made to the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the nation’s finances and the Government’s proposals for changes to taxation. London Councils submits detailed written representations containing evidence and argument on local government finance to all Budget setting processes that invite such submissions. London Councils’ recent Budget documents can be found below.
September Budget 2022 - London Councils’ Key Priorities
Local Government Finance Settlements
Annual funding allocations to individual local authorities are determined each year through the Local government finance settlement process, which must fit within the spending control totals set out in the Spending Review. The process usually begins with the publication of a technical consultation paper in the autumn before the publication of the provisional local government finance settlement in December. There is then a short consultation on the provisional settlement before allocations are confirmed early in the new year.
Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2022-23 - London Councils' Consultation Response